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David Eddings

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Famous David Eddings Quotes

“When you get down to the bottom of it, only about half of what we remember really happened. We tend to modify things to make ourselves look better in our own eyes and in the eyes of others. Then, if what we did wasn't really very admirable, we tend to forget that it ever happened. A normal human being's grasp on reality is very tenuous at best. Our imaginary lives are usually much nicer.”

IfsHumansLooksRealityEyeRememberHuman BeingsForgetHalfHappenedNormalBottomImaginaryAdmirableImaginary Life
Book:Polgara the Sorceress
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“We're living in momentous times, Garion. The events of a thousand years and more have all focused on these very days. The world, I'm told, is like that. Centuries pass when nothing happens, and then in a few short years events of such tremendous importance take place that the world is never the same again." I think that if I had my choice, I'd prefer one of those quiet centuries," Garion said glumly. Oh, no," Silk said, his lips drawing back in a ferretlike grin. "Now's the time to be alive - to see it all happen, to be a part of it. That makes the blood race, and each breath is an adventure.”

IfsThinkingWorldYearsSaidHappensChoicesRaceAliveBloodCenturyEventsAdventureThousandQuietImportanceBreathsLipsFocusedDrawingThousand YearsSilk
Author:David Eddings
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“Sparhawk grinned. "If Martel finds out that he's drinking again, he'll reach down his throat and pull his heart out." "Can you actually do that to a man?" "You can if your arm's long enough, and if you know what you're looking for.[...]”

IfsKnowsMenHeartLongEnoughArmsDrinkingThroat
Book:The Complete Elenium Trilogy: The Diamond Throne, The Ruby Knight, The Sapphire Rose
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“...If there's a noise in the woods, and there's nobody around to hear it, is it really a noise?" "Of course it is," she replied calmly. "How did you reach that conclusion?" Beldin demanded. "Because there's no such thing as an empty place, uncle. There are always creatures around --wild animals, mice, insects, birds --and they can all hear." "But what if there weren't? What if the woods are truly empty?" "Why waste your time talking about an impossibility?”

IfsCoursesAnimalTalkingCreaturesWasteBirdEmptyWoodsNoiseConclusionWhat IfMiceUnclesInsectsImpossibilityWild AnimalEmpty Places
Author:David Eddings
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“I'd really like to go with you, Agachak. Truly I would...but I just can't." "I don't understand. Why not?" "I'm not allowed to leave home. My mother'd punish me something awful if I did..." "But you're the king." "That doesn't change a thing. I still do what mother says. She tells everybody that I'm the best boy ever when it comes to that." Agachak resisted a powerful urge to change this half-wit into a toad or perhaps a jellyfish.”

IfsStillsHomeMotherPowerfulHalfBoysKingsWitAwfulUrgesWhy NotToadsJellyfish
Author:David Eddings
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“One of the less attractive aspects of human nature is our tendency to hate the people we haven't treated very well; it's much easier than accepting guilt. If we can convince ourselves that the people we betrayed or enslaved were subhuman monsters in the first place, then our guilt isn't nearly so black as we secretly know that it is. Humans are very, very good at shifting blame and avoiding guilt.”

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Author:David Eddings
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“When you know that something's going to happen, you'll start trying to see signs of its approach in just about everything. Always try to remember that most of the things that happen in this world aren't signs. They happen because they happen, and their only real significance lies in normal cause and effect. You'll drive yourself crazy if you start trying to pry the meaning out of every gust of wind or rain squall. I'm not denying that there might actually be a few signs that you won't want to miss. Knowing the difference is the tricky part.”

IfsKnowsWorldWantTryingRealMightHappensRememberLyingCausesDifferencesKnowingCrazyEffectsMissingThis WorldWindNormalApproachRainSignificanceTrickyCause And Effect
Author:David Eddings
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“The notion that any one person can describe 'what really happened' is an absurdity. If ten - or a hundred - people witness an event, there will be ten - or a hundred - different versions of what took place. What we see and how we interpret it depends entirely upon our individual past experience.”

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Book:Polgara the Sorceress
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